Celebrated young author James Frey must be banking on the success of his soon-to-be-released second book. The once-drug-addled writer purchased a $2.55 million Soho condo in early May, according to city deed-transfer records. The 2,000-square-foot condo originally listed at $2.495 million.
“It’s a beautiful apartment,” said broker Daren Herzberg of the Corcoran Group, who represented the sellers along with colleague Brian Babst. “It’s in a prime West Soho location.”
Mr. Frey and his wife, Maya, will have a fairly short move to the luxurious new pad, leaving behind their 1,800-square-foot Tribeca loft nearby for one of downtown’s sleekest “lifestyle” condominiums. The boutique building-sheathed in glass-features a 24-hour doorman, fitness center, pet spa and a Zen-like rock garden.
Their three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment comes without the slightest wear and tear; it was purchased as a sponsor unit last fall and has now been flipped in mint condition.
The couple’s master bedroom has a master bath en suite. Other features include mahogany floors, nine-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, limestone bathrooms and three exposures offering exceptional views.
The chef’s kitchen is chock-full of coveted modern amenities: a six-burner Viking stove, a Bosch dishwasher and a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer.
Mr. Frey’s first book, A Million Little Pieces, both delighted and shocked critics with its wrenching, detailed account of life within Minnesota’s renowned Hazelden rehab clinic. My Friend Leonard, his highly touted second effort, is slated for publication in mid-June by Riverhead Books.
Although they’re markedly different literary stylists, Mr. Frey’s purchase follows on the heels of one by Jonathan Safran Foer, another acclaimed two-time author, who made real-estate news this spring with his purchase of a 20-foot-wide Park Slope palace for a reported $6.75 million.
Mr. Frey could not be reached for comment by press time.
Dimension Films head Bob Weinstein continues buying up real estate in Manhattan, under the radar of the Miramax news that has dominated the headlines.
In March, Mr. Weinstein’s $3 million purchase of an Astor Place condo was reported in this column. More recently, the quieter Weinstein brother has added an Upper West Side apartment to his real-estate portfolio, picking up the choice property for close to $1.4 million.
Mr. Weinstein’s spokesperson confirmed to The Observer that the movie mogul purchased the condo as an investment. And he is wisely getting in on the ground floor of a new condominium-offering plan.
The Hopkins, a 20-story prewar building, is currently being converted from rental apartments to condominiums, with 95 units available for purchase.
However, Mr. Weinstein still maintains his lavish residence at the Beresford, the Emery Roth–designed building on Central Park West, where he reportedly purchased an apartment for $12.75 million in October 2003.
Not to be outdone by his brother, Harvey Weinstein has also been dabbling in real estate over the past few months. The more vocal Weinstein brother’s Mercer Street condo recently went to contract; it’s currently listed at $6.1 million with Stribling and Associates, down $600,000 from when it was first put on the market in August 2004. Hopefully the deal will soon be closed, considering that Mr. Weinstein just purchased a new Spring Street home in March for about $6.8 million.
With Star Wars enthusiasts still recovering from camping outside movie theaters, it’s easy to forget that another sci-fi enterprise has boasted several more sequels. Star Trek star Jonathan Frakes and his actress wife, Genie Francis, have parted with their Central Park West condo for $3.5 million, according to city records.
The apartment is located at the Park Laurel, a 40-story condominium overlooking Central Park West that was built five years ago. At the time of construction, its proposed height attracted the ire of many people in the community. The building includes a health club and a full-time doorman.
Mr. Frakes began his career with guest roles in 1970’s classics Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island and The Waltons. However, he became famous for playing the role of William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation and in the subsequent film versions. He even directed two Star Trek feature films: First Contact and Insurrection. No stranger to the screen herself, Ms. Francis has worked for decades in television, with roles on All My Children, General Hospital and numerous others.
Mr. Frakes declined to comment on the sale.
Recent Transactions in the Real Estate Market
Upper West Side
250 West 94th Street Two-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op. Asking: $1.845 million. Selling: $1.8 million. Charges: $1,315; 25 percent tax-deductible. Time on the market: two months.
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK Having fled Central Park West for more tranquil rural environs, the sellers of this well-maintained classic six were now ready to part with it. “It was built in a grand style,” said broker Daniel Douglas of the Corcoran Group, who represented the sellers. “Every room was big-bigger than normal for this kind of property.” The 1,800-square-foot apartment includes a chef’s kitchen and a maid’s room with bath. The prewar apartment also features high ceilings, herringbone floors and fine detailing; the building comes equipped with a roof deck, central laundry room and health club. The Corcoran Group’s Andrew Kramer represented the buyers, who happily traded their residence in a comparatively more modern Manhattan building for this grand, white-glove co-op.
Midtown East
212 East 57th Street Two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo. Asking: $1.1 million. Selling: $1.1 million. Time on the market: one day.
SPACE-AGE BACHELOR PAD A British businessman searching for a new pied-à-terre sought out the same broker who’d sold him three previous apartments-in Manhattan and in Miami. Knowing his client’s real-estate predilections, the broker showed him the floor plans for a new building with only 38 apartments after its scheduled completion in early 2006 and plenty of intimacy. Sutton 57, the luxury residential tower, will be 24 stories tall and will offer mostly full-floor apartments. “Everyone gets to know each other,” said David Tobon of Nest Seekers International. “It’s in the heart of midtown east.” The condominium plans to offer a 24-hour concierge, a rooftop terrace, a fitness center and a private garden. This 1,300-square-foot apartment includes numerous amenities and detailing like Cabreuva hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling Calacatta gold-honed stone with matching mosaic tiles.
